bimmer bulletin - BMW Car Club of America

BIMMER BULLETIN
MAY 2012
WWW.MICHIANA-BMWCCA.COM
Happy New Year Michiana Chapter Members, it’s Spring and
the New Year begins here with fun social events and driving events
on the horizon. It’s time to dust off that carefully stored Bimmer and
come out to the 2012 Michiana Chapter Spring Dust off. This year
it promises to be a great event with a fun drive beginning at Harold
Zeigler BMW in Kalamazoo and ending at a scenic lakeside location
in St Joseph.
The Autocross Season begins the following weekend at the
Tire Rack. I can’t wait!
During the winter months we have been hard at work on the
cars, getting them ready for this autocross season.
Last year was the first year my son Timothy (17 now and soon
to be 18) competed in his 1996 328i Manual Sedan. We discovered
that there were a few things in need of attention and have been
working on remedying those items. We found that both the rear
springs were broken on his car and the shocks and shock mounts
were beyond their useful life, making the handling really “loosey
goosey”. We decided to go with a set of H&R Sport springs and
some Bilstein Sport Shocks and began the task of upgrading his suspension.
Timothy was really excited about the cool modifications to his car and he set about changing out the
parts. We worked on it together but Timothy did all the real work himself, I took photos, so if my 17 year old can
do this then you can work on your own BMW. I do recommend owning the Bentley Service manual for reference
and torque settings. Changing the front shocks involved compressing the front strut springs, which is thought
to be a very difficult and dangerous task. Not to understate the potential danger, but this is a very do-able task
for a home mechanic. The springs can be compressed with
a rented spring compressor from a local Auto store, I happen
to own a set of basic spring compressors that work just fine
if used properly. Having a friend with a lift in his barn was a
bonus but this work can quite easily be done without a lift. The
car looks a little cooler because it’s lowered about 1-1/2 inches
now and it also handles better than new.
These upgrades will push Tim’s car into a slightly
higher competitive class, the same one that I am competing
in with my 1989 325i, so the competition is going to heat up
a bit. I already have tough competition from my wife Abby,
but have now enabled my son to get into the running…. what
was I thinking?? Autocross is such a fun family activity!! If you
have never tried it you just have to give it a go. No need for
all the upgrades, your BMW is already equipped for fun. If you
take it to the extreme you might want to upgrade some stuff but just to have fun all you need is a reasonably
well-maintained car. We started autocrossing for the first 3 years in a 2000 323i Sport Wagon. People were
constantly saying things like “Boy you’re really throwing that grocery getter around out there!” It has 177k miles
on it now and is no worse for wear because of autocross.
Our Newsletter is sporting 4 extra pages with a fresh appearance, and we hope to provide more valuable
articles for our members to read. You could be a part of that. If you have an interesting story and or pictures
to contribute, please contact Chris Burd. Check the Event Calendar for a list of other happenings and stay
connected on Facebook.
Harvey Nuttall
Michiana BMWCCA Chapter President.
Search for us under
BMWCCA
Michiana Chapter
Reprint from BMW Club International Council
Newsletter- With Permission
UPCOMING MICHIANA EVENTS
Spring Dust Off..........................................................................May 12
Autocross..................................................................................May 19
Michigan International Speedway Tour.......................................June 3
Autocross.................................................................................June 16
Autocross..................................................................................July 14
Autocross............................................................................. August 11
Autocross.......................................................................September 08
Fall Color Tour.....................................................................October 13
Christmas Party.................................................................December 8
NON MICHIANA EVENTS OF INTEREST
Windy City Challenge ........................................................... June 2-3
Deutsch Marques at Gilmore ......................................................July 7
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Contact Member Concierge: Tony Bonazzi at (269) 488-2224 or tonybonazzi@haroldzeigler.com
Come in, call or click : www.haroldzeiglerbmw.com Zeigler BMW of Kalamazoo
4201 Stadium Drive • Kalamazoo, MI 49008
877-999-9658 • www.HaroldZeiglerBMW.com
See dealer for details. Not in conjunction with any other advertised offer. With approved credit. Member validation may
be requested. Must be presented at time of service write-up or purchase option negotiation.
Zeigler
BMW of
Kalamazoo
877-999-9641
The Ultimate
Driving Machine®
NON MICHIANA DRIVING SCHOOLS OF INTEREST
Autobahn (Windy City Chapter).............................................Apr 28-29
Mid Ohio (Northern Ohio Chapter)...................................... May 26-27
Barber Motorsports Park (Heart of Dixie Chapter) ............. May 26-27
Waterford Hills 1 Day (Motorcity Chapter) ................................Jun 15
Putnam Park (Hoosier Chapter)........................................... Jun 22-24
VIR North Course (Tarheel Chapter).................................Jun 29-Jul 1
Grattan (Windy City Chapter)...............................................Aug 25-26 VIR Full Course (Tarheel Chapter).......................................Aug 24-26
Octoberfest Mid-Ohio (Buckeye Chapter)............................Sep 21-23
Road America (Badger Bimmers Chapter)...........................Sep 28-30
Grattan (Motorcity Chapter).......................................................Oct 5-7 Mid-Ohio (Buckeye Chapter).................................................Oct 19-21
More information at www.furrin.org
FURRIN GROUP CALENDAR OF EVENTS
Autocross #1 at West Michigan Auto Auction............................May 12
Autocross #2 at West Michigan Auto Auction............................May 13
Test and Tune Autocross #3 at Cruising Muskegon...................June 1
Autocross #4 at Cruising Muskegon...........................................June 2
Presents the Hot Rod Power Tour Royal Purple Autocross........June 3
Autocross #5 at US 131 Motorsports Park..................................July 1
Autocross #6 at Grand Valley State University - Allendalee...... July 14
Autocross #7 at Grand Valley State University - Allendalee...... July 15
Autocross #8 at Michigan State University............................. August 4
Autocross #9 at Michigan State University ............................ August 5
Charity Autocross #10 at US 131 w/March of Dimes.......September 9
Autocross #11 at My Auto Import Center........................................TBA
CRUISING MICHIGAN INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY!
CLUB EVENT (BMWCCA MEMBERS ONLY)
Limited 30 cars. Sunday, June 3, 2012. Drive a few fast laps on the track. This is
part of drive and dine event. Leaving Okemos Auto Collection BMW Dealership.
I-96 Exit 110 at 8 a.m. For more information contact Barbara Hack, 3860 Mulliken
Rd, Charlotte, MI 48813. 517-543-6002 or 517-541-6451. $20.00 track reservation
require per car and number attending lunch.
MICHIANA CHAPTER
MONTHLY GTG (GET-TOGETHER) If you were looking for a more regular opportunity to
connect with other members in your area, the Michiana
Chapter BMWCCA holds monthly GTG meetings in our
major cities Michigan and Indiana.
GTG’s will take place on the FIRST WEDNESDAY
OF EVERY MONTH. These are informal gatherings just to
socialize and meet other member, enthusiasts.
The monthly meetings will take place year round in
South Bend, Indiana.
In Michigan they will run from May to September at
the Gilmore Museum at their Wednesday night Cruise in on
the first Wednesday of every month from about 5:30pm
until 7pm or so. (We started doing this last year and it has
been growing in popularity.)
From October to April they will take place in the
major cities as listed below:
Grand Rapids MI: October Through April only
El Barrio Mexican Grill - 545 Michigan St Grand Rapids
Just east of College Ave.Tel 616 301 0010 Plenty of
parking next to the restaurant in their parking lot. El Barrio
has excellent Burritos full menu listing available on their
website www.elbarriomexicangrill.com Kalamazoo MI: October Through April Only
Theo & Stacy›s Restaurant Portage - 5225 Portage
Road Portage, Michigan 49002 Tel: (269) 345-3000 http://
theoandstacys.com/portage.php
South Bend, Niles. Elkhart IN: YEAR ROUND
Giannetto’s Family Italian Restaurant -14020 Cleveland
Road, Granger, IN 46530.
Corner of Cleveland and 331 North. If you are coming from
the Toll Road, it is just about a mile south on 331 where the
Toll Road dumps out at the Mishawaka, Indiana exit.
If someone would like to host this
event in other areas such as Traverse City MI
or Fort Wayne IN please contact Harvey
Nuttall at bmwnutt@att.net with
restaurant details.
Event details will be posted on our
Facebook Page and on our website.
AUTOCROSS 2012
Building on the success on last year’s Autocross
program, we are expanding our Autocross program in 2012.
We will have five events – one a month from May through
September.
THE DATES ARE: May 19, June 16, July 14, August
11, September 8
Autocross is a great way to enjoy your car and improve
your driving skills. Carl’s course designs are challenging for
experts, yet easy to follow for novices. If you haven’t tried it yet,
consider joining us for a Saturday of fun competition this year.
Our Auto-x crowd is a very friendly, helpful bunch. We’ll do all
we can to make sure you have a great time!
Novices are encouraged and we have instructors and
loaner helmets available. Our events are family friendly and
several folks brought sons or daughters, husbands or wives along to participate. We all enjoyed watching the household rivalries!
There are a few significant rule changes this year. National has issued a new rule that limits us to receiving income from
members only (to maintain our non-profit status). You can still bring a guest, but you have to pay for your guest (how you settle
up is between the two of you!) Helmets must be Snell 2005 or newer. The website contains all the updated rules, tech form and
sample waivers.
To expedite on-site registration, we’re going to try optional pre-registration this year. If we can enter most drivers into the
computer the day before the event, we can complete registration much faster and get everyone on the course on time. See the
website for details.
The cost remains a very affordable $30 per person, including lunch. All events are held at The Tire Rack in South Bend,
Indiana. In addition to support from the Tire Rack, we also receive support from BimmerWorld. Please consider supporting these
companies that support us.
If you have questions, please contact Eve Dolenski (evedolenski@att.net, 269-969-7492) or Carl Zmijewski
(carl.zmijewski@gmail.com)
GERMAN CAR OWNERS DON’T MISS THIS EVENT!
The Inaugural Deutsche Marques Event at the Gilmore Museum. All German Auto Owners and Clubs are
invited. Strong Dealer Support from German Car Dealers locally. Great prizes to be awarded for many different
categories, not just cleanest or shiniest!! Museum will be open and you can show your car for less than the price of
admission. Gilmore Museum Entry is $10, entry for participants who display a German Auto is $7. Deutsche Marques
is a new event for our calendar this year but it is shaping up to be a great fixture for the club. The event is being
organized by a committee if Michiana Chapter Members but is open to all German Autos, so if you know someone
with a German Auto please invite them to come along. The Gilmore will host the Mad Dogs and Englishmen event
the following day, where all the cars will be of British Descent, you could make a weekend of it.
GILMORE MUSEUM: 6865 Hickory Road, Hickory Corners, Michigan 49060.
Phone: (260)671.5089
Thank you to
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President
Harvey Nuttall
7115 Tony Dr.
Hudsonville, MI 49426
e-mail: bmwnutt@att.net
phone: 616-634-3655
Newsletter Editor
Chris Burd
P.O. Box 565
Angola, IN 46703
e-mail: BurdCP02tii@aol.com
phone: 260-833-6292
Vice President
Webmaster
Greg Strader
Craig Sisk
6794 Brickleton Court
8430 Petoskey St.
Portage, MI 49024 Kalamazoo, MI 49009
e-mail: gregorystrader@yahoo.com e-mail: megacraig@hotmail.com
phone: 269-270-1177
phone: 408-761-7910
Grand Rapids Coordinators
Dave Brandsen
6719 Pine Ridge Ct
Jenison MI 49428
Tel : 616 437-2154
email: Daveb@3dmkting.com
Kalamazoo Coordinator
Randy von Steinen
8359 S. 24th St.
Kalamazoo, MI 49001
e-mail: randall.vonsteinen@hp.com
Michiana Chapter Dealers
Secretary
South Bend Coordinators
Matt Westgate
Tim and Mel Brassell
Fort Wayne 46804
1763 East 88th Street
11372 Jefferson Rd
Tomkinson BMW #33763
Newaygo, MI 49337
Osceola, IN 46531
929 Avenue of Autos
e-mail: matthewwestgate@hotmail.com e-mail: mbrassell65@sbcglobal.net
phone:(260) 436-9000
phone: 231-414-0601
phone: 574-675-9532
10% Discount on parts & service
www.tomkinsondodge.com
Treasurer
Lansing Coordinators
Eve Dolenski
POSITION OPEN
Grand Rapids 49508
4022 Council Crest Circle
Sharpe BMW #86862
Battle Creek, MI 49014
Ft. Wayne Coordinator
1010 28th Street Southeast
phone: 269-969-7492
Rick and Kate Tomkinson
phone: (616) 452-5101
Tomkinson BMW
www.sharpebmw.com
14/69 Auto Mall
10% Parts Discount
929 Avenue Autos
Fort Wayne, IN 46804
phone: 877-872-1084
South Bend 46637
Basney BMW #46389
52203 U.S. 33 North
phone: (574) 272-8504
www.basneyimports.com/bmw/
Kalamazoo 49008
Harold Zeigler BMW #96774
4201 Stadium Drive
phone: (269) 375-4500
10% Discount on parts & service
www.haroldzeiglerbmw.com
Okemos 48864
BMW of Lansing #85600
2186 Jolly Road
phone: (517) 853-2600
15% Discount on parts
www.lansingimports.com
Traverse City 49684
Fox Auto Group
3464 N. U.S. 31 South
sales: 888-633-0159 www.foxbmwtc.com
BMW CCA., Michiana Chapter
P.O. Box 2173
Grand Rapids, MI 49501
www.michiana-bmwcca.com
This newsletter is a publication of the Michiana Chapter of the BMW CCA, Inc.,
a non-profit organization which is not connected in any way with the
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG or the importer. It is published as a service to
it’s members. The ideas, suggestions and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the individual authors and no endorsement or authentication is
implied. None of the information bears the status of “factory-approved” unless
so indicated. Some modifications described may void the warranty or be illegal. Unless otherwise noted, permission is granted to reproduce the materials
published herein, provided full credit is given to the author(s) of the material
and this newsletter. All suggestions and contributions are welcome.
Please send them to: Chris Burd,
P.O. Box 565, Angola, IN 46703
E-mail: Burdcp02tii@aol.com
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